A decade after one man’s determination sparked a revolution in cancer support across the North East, County Durham charity Team Solan is gearing up for its most ambitious chapter yet with a strengthened leadership team of trustees and senior professionals united behind a shared mission.
The Solan Connor Fawcett Family Cancer Trust, known to thousands as Team Solan, has recently appointed two new trustees: Ryan Hudson, founder of RGH Group, multi-business owner, investor and solutions coach, and Simon Davies, a senior finance professional who has played a key role in the growth of Crafter’s Companion, the international craft business founded by entrepreneur Sara Davies.
Their appointments, alongside the imminent arrival of Kim Nielson from Hewitt’s Solicitors as a further trustee, and the recent appointment of Michelle Atkinson as Fundraising and Development Lead, come at a time of growing demand for the charity’s services and signal a confident step forward for an organisation that has raised more than £2 million and regularly supported around 500 cancer warriors since its founding in 2015.
The right team at the right time
For founder Mark Solan, who built the charity from a single boxing fundraiser into a full-service support network offering free counselling, holistic therapies, patient transport, a wellness centre, retail superstore and more, the appointments represent the next stage in a journey that has always been driven by ambition and community support.
Mark comments: “When I started Team Solan ten years ago, it was just me, a cause I believed in and a community that got behind us. Since then, we’ve raised more than £2 million and changed thousands of lives, but the job is nowhere near done. To reach more people affected by cancer, we need to be smarter and stronger as an organisation. Ryan, Simon, Kim and Michelle all bring fresh expertise that will help us do exactly that and I’m genuinely excited about what we’re going to achieve together.”
Ryan Hudson brings extensive experience across business ownership, investment and strategic development and will support the charity’s fundraising ambitions, long-term planning and operational growth. Simon Davies brings significant financial expertise and commercial experience that will help Team Solan manage and grow its resources as demand continues to increase. Kim Nielson, joining from Hewitt’s Solicitors, will provide valuable legal guidance, including supporting the charity’s growing work around legacy giving and helping supporters understand how they can leave a gift to Team Solan in their will.
Michelle Atkinson has joined Team Solan as Fundraising and Development Lead and will be responsible for leading fundraising and engagement activities to support the charity’s growth and long-term sustainability.
Together with longstanding trustees Harry Hubbard, a dedicated supporter who has been by Mark’s side through charity walks, events and community outreach since 2017, and Paul O’Hare, who oversees the charity’s accounts, the leadership team now represents a powerful blend of community roots, financial discipline, fundraising expertise, legal knowledge, strategic thinking and lived experience.
Ryan Hudson comments: “Cancer isn’t abstract to me. My dad went through it for many years and I saw first-hand what that does to a family. The fear, the uncertainty and the relentless pressure on everyone around the person who’s ill. Team Solan is the organisation I wish had existed for us.
“I’ve also seen first-hand what Team Solan does for people when they need it most, and it’s unlike anything else in the region. What Mark has built here is genuinely special. To protect it, grow it and make it last, you need the right people around the table.
“Between us, we cover every angle: finances, fundraising, strategy, legal expertise and community engagement. This is a leadership team built for the next ten years, not just the next twelve months. I’ve joined the board because I want to help make sure Team Solan is still here, bigger and stronger, for the next generation of families who need it.”
Ten years of changing lives
Last year, Team Solan celebrated its tenth anniversary and, while the charity has now raised more than £2 million, the figures tell only part of the story.
What began as a one-off white-collar boxing event that raised £22,000 for Cancer Research UK in 2015 has evolved into one of the North East’s most distinctive cancer support charities. A first charity shop opened in 2016. In 2017, Mark walked from the Pride of Britain Awards in London back to Spennymoor, a gruelling 19-day journey that brought national attention to the cause. A retail and furniture superstore followed, alongside the launch of the charity’s wellness centre, while the ethos remained unchanged: no waiting lists, no red tape, just support when it is needed most.
Today, a team of 12 part-time staff and around 40 volunteers delivers approximately £330,000 of free personalised support every year, including counselling, holistic therapies, hair loss advice, support groups, financial assistance, a support hub and kitchen, an allotment and patient transport services, all tailored to individual needs.
A charity built to last
The strengthening of Team Solan’s leadership team reflects a clear understanding of what is needed for the future. Growing demand, expanding services and ambitious plans for the years ahead require more than passion alone. They require governance, strategy, fundraising capability and professional expertise.
Simon Davies comments: “What Mark has created is something the whole region should be proud of: immediate and personalised support for people facing one of the most difficult periods of their lives.
“Having been friends with Mark for the last decade, I’ve had the privilege of watching both his journey and the incredible growth of Team Solan. Seeing first-hand the impact the charity has on individuals and families across our communities has only strengthened my admiration for what has been achieved.
“I’m excited to move into an official position supporting Team Solan’s journey and future ambitions. I’m joining the board because I believe in what Team Solan stands for and because I know that with the right financial foundations in place, the charity can reach even more people and make an even bigger difference across our communities.”
Team Solan continues to welcome support from local businesses, individuals and community groups through fundraising, volunteering, sponsorship and partnership opportunities.
Businesses across the North East looking to make their corporate social responsibility activity truly count are encouraged to get in touch. With a strengthened leadership team and a clear vision for the future, there has never been a better time to align with a charity that is changing lives across the region.
To find out more or support Team Solan’s work, visit www.teamsolan.org.uk.
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
